Russia not ruling out inviting WTO arbitrators to resolve disputes caused by Western sanctions - Medvedkov
ST. PETERSBURG. June 18 (Interfax) - While Russia is trying to resolve trade disputes through discussions, it has not ruled out turning for help to World Trade Organization (WTO) arbitrators in the event of unsurmountable differences.
"We believe that sanctions must not apply to trade as a reaction to some political events. We are using whatever tools available to get this view across to our partners. If we decide that this line has exhausted itself and there is no other way but to invite WTO arbitrators, we will do so," Director of the Russian Economic Development Ministry's Department of Trade Negotiations Maksim Medvedkov said at a briefing in St. Petersburg on Wednesday.
"But for now there is no such decision," he added.
For his part Swiss Ambassador to the WTO Luzius Wasescha said that should Russia decide to raise this matter with the WTO, consultations will need to be held primarily between Russia and the countries that imposed the sanctions. After that a council can be held to handle these disputes. This council will include three or five people who are WTO specialists and will prepare a report and recommendations, Wasescha said.
Medvedkov added that currently Russia is a party to 17 WTO lawsuits: in two of them it acts as a plaintiff, three as a defendant, and in 12 as a third party.